Magazine for an endless film

ABSTRACT

A film magazine carries an endless film which is wrapped about a hub portion on a flange extending at a right angle to the axis of the hub, the hub having a first cylindrical portion in contact with the inntermost convolution of the film near the flange, and having a tapered hub portion remote from the flange. A rib within the cover of the film magazine which maintains the film convolutions on the hub in proper position is recessed at the point where it overlies the innermost film convolution and a portion of the tapered surface portion, the rib being positioned circumferentially at the point where the innermost convolution leaves the hub, the depth of the recess within the rib and the demarcation between the tapered portion of the hub and the cylindrical portion of the hub is approximately equal to the thickness of the film to insure edge contact only between the innermost convolution and the point of removal from the hub and the tapered surface portion of the hub and the rib respectively.

United States Patent [1 1 Takahama MAGAZINE FOR AN ENDLESS FILM Nov. 6,1973 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,359,359 3/1964 France 242/55.19 A

Primary Examiner-Billy S. Taylor Att0rney-Richard C. Sughrue et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A film magazine carries an endless film which is wrappedabout a hub portion on a flange extending at a right angle to the axisof the hub, the hub having a first cylindrical portion in contact withthe inntermost convolution of the film near the flange, and having atapered hub portion remote from the flange. A rib within the cover ofthe film magazine which maintains the fllm convolutions on the hub inproper position is recessed at the point where it overlies the innermostfilm convolution and a portion of the tapered surface portion, the ribbeing positioned circumferentially at the point where-theinnermostconvolution leaves the 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures [75]lnventor: Sho Takahama, Nishinomiya-shi,

Hyogo, Japan [73] Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.,

' Kanagawa, Japan [22] Filed: Apr. 14, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 244,167 vRelated US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No.26,572, April 8,

1970, abandoned.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 17, 1969 Japan 44/29837 [52]U.S. C1. 242/55.l9 A, 352/128 [51] Int. Cl B65h 17/48 [58] Field ofSearch 242/55.l9 A;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,065,310 11/1962 Cross242/55.19 A 2,908,769 10/1959 Fonda i 242/55.19 A 2,853,923 9/1958Daniel 242/55.19 A 3,285,526 11/1966 Moore 242/55.19 A 3,305,296 2/1967Nicosia 242/55.19 A

102 lb? I0! 100 CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This applicationis a continuation in part application of application Ser. No. 26, 572,filed Apr. 8, 1970, identically entitled, not abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the'lnvention The presentinvention relates to magazines for holding endless films, and inparticular to a magazine for an endless movie film which is adapted foruse with movie projectors.

I 2. Description of the Prior Art In conventional endless film reels, asillustrated in FIG. 1, the hub 2 is provided with a taperedcircumferential portion 20, and has integrally coupled thereto a flange1 at the small diameter side of the hub 2 with the endless film 3 woundupon the hub. The hub 2 with the flange 1 integrally formed therewith,has coupled thereto a cover plate 4 which includes radially extendingribs 5 which press the 'wound film 3 against flange 1 to align theindividual turns. The ribs 5 thus prevent the endless film 3 carried bythe hub 2 from being displaced from position. The film 3 is removed fromthe space existing between the cover plate 4 and the adjacent edge ofthe wound film 3 from the inside of the coil or convoluted film. Theremovedfilm 3 is returned to the outside periphery or outer convolutionof the endless film after passing through the projecting mechanism ofthe movie projector.

The film carried by the conventional endless film reel illustrated inFIG. 1, is therefore liable to be damaged or scratched as it is removedby contact with the edge of the hub 2, in particular, at edge 21. Sincethe hub 2 is tapered such that the end opposite that of the fixed flangeis of largest diameter, it is necessary to mold the flange and the hubas separate units rather than to form the same integrally. Not onlyisthere the possibility of scratching the film, but, the molds forforming the flange and the hub are accordingly complicated, and the costis increased.

In handling movie film as contrasted to magnetic tape, it is veryimportant to handle it so'as to prevent scratches being formed on thesurface of the film, since it is impossible to sharply and faithfullyproject the image on the film onto a projection screen if the film isdamaged by surface scratches and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is therefore directed toan improved magazine for an endless film in which the film may be easilyremoved without damage to the surface of the film, and the magazine inturn may be easily manufactured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a sectional view of aconventional reel carrying an endless film.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an improved magazine for holding anendless film in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic, plan view of the endless film magazine inaccordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 2 and '3, ahub 102 having a tapered circumferential surface portion 120 isrotatably mounted in a magazine body portion with the hub 102 having aflange 101 integrally formed therewith on the larger diameter side orend thereof. Tapered surface portion 120 terminates in a cylindricalwall 107 which extends at right angles to flange 101. An endless film103 is wound on the hub 102 and the body portion 100 has coupled theretoan overlying cover portion 104, which is specially fitted to the bodyportion 100. The cover portion 104 is provided with radially extendingribs 105 on the inside surface thereof at spaced circumferentialpositions with at least one of the ribs 105 being provided with anotched or recessed portion 106 facing tapered hub surface portion andaligned with wall 107, for guiding the film portion 103 as it is removedfrom the center of the film convolutions and passes above the same asbest seen in FIG. 3. The height of the wall 107 is generally equal tothe depth of recess 106. The film portion 103' is removed from the coilsor convolutions surrounding hub 102 in the magazine of the presentinvention easily through the space existing between the taperedcircumferential surface portion 120 of the hub 102 and the lastconvolution of the coil film 103 is further guided during removal byguiding recess 106 formed within the radial extending rib 105 of thecover portion 104. The removed film portion 103 is easily introducedinto the projecting mechanism of the movie projector and returnedthrough suitableguides to the outermost peripheral film convolution.Thus, the endless film 103 forms a loop exteriorly of hub 102. The filmfeeding mechanism for the projector may be of any type such as by clawor the like feeding the film intermittently or by a capstan and pinchroller for feeding the film continuously. The height of wall 107, thetapering of the hub surface as at 120 and the depth of the recess 106are such that throughout removal of the innermost convolution, edgecontact is assured for both edges of the film with the tapered hubsurface and the bottom of the rib recess without bringing the emulsionon the film in contact with the hub or the rib, whereby, there is nopossibility of abrasion of the emulsion once the innermost convolutionrises above the height of wall 107.

In accordance with the improved magazine of the present invention, thefilm which is wound on the hub is undamaged either by the frictionexisting between the inner convolution and the hub when the film isremoved due to its limited contact with the inner tapered surface 120 ofthe hub or scratched since during removal it does not contact a sharptapered end of the same. Due to the spacing between the hub periphery120 and the innermost convolution of film 103, the film runs smoothlytherethrough and through the guide recess 106 within rib 105 on theinner side of cover 104. Further, since the flange 101 is fixed to thehub 102 at the larger diameter side thereof, the magazine with theexception of the cover may be formed from a single mold, greatlyreducing the cost of the same.

What is claimed is: l. A magazine for an endless photographic filmcomprising: a body portion, a cover portion overlying said body portion,a rotatable hub carried within said body portion and wound with anendless photographic film with the rotational axis thereof beingorthogonal to the wall of the cover portion, the improvement comprising:said hub including a circumferential surface portion tapered such thatthe small diameter side of the hub faces said cover portion,

a radial flange extending outwardly from said hub at the large diameterside thereof and edge supporting the wound convolutions of said film,and

at least one rib carried on the internal surface of said cover portionfor aligning the edges of the film convolutions carried by said hub,whereby said endless film is wound onto the hub at the outer peripherythereof, said rib being circumferentially aligned with the point on saidhub wherein the innermost convolution'of said film breaks contact withsaid hub during tangential removal therefrom, said rib being providedwith a recess lying opposite said tapered circumferential surfaceportion of said hub with said recess being of a depth such that duringremoval of the innermost film convolution, the film contacts only thebottom of the recess at one edge and the tapered surface of the hub withthe other edge to insure removal ofthe film at said innermostconvolution without abrasion to the emulsion carried thereby.

2. The magazine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said radial flange isdefined by a right angle cylindrical wall intercepting said taperedcircumferential surface portion of said hub, said cylindrical wall beingin radial alignment with said recess within said rib with the height ofthe wall corresponding generally to the depth of the recess to insureedge contact of said film with said recess and said tapered hub surfaceportion during tangential removal of said innermost film convolution.

1. A magazine for an endless photographic film comprising: a bodyportion, a cover portion overlying said body portion, a rotatable hubcarried within said body portion and wound with an endless pHotographicfilm with the rotational axis thereof being orthogonal to the wall ofthe cover portion, the improvement comprising: said hub including acircumferential surface portion tapered such that the small diameterside of the hub faces said cover portion, a radial flange extendingoutwardly from said hub at the large diameter side thereof and edgesupporting the wound convolutions of said film, and at least one ribcarried on the internal surface of said cover portion for aligning theedges of the film convolutions carried by said hub, whereby said endlessfilm is wound onto the hub at the outer periphery thereof, said ribbeing circumferentially aligned with the point on said hub wherein theinnermost convolution of said film breaks contact with said hub duringtangential removal therefrom, said rib being provided with a recesslying opposite said tapered circumferential surface portion of said hubwith said recess being of a depth such that during removal of theinnermost film convolution, the film contacts only the bottom of therecess at one edge and the tapered surface of the hub with the otheredge to insure removal of the film at said innermost convolution withoutabrasion to the emulsion carried thereby.
 2. The magazine as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said radial flange is defined by a right anglecylindrical wall intercepting said tapered circumferential surfaceportion of said hub, said cylindrical wall being in radial alignmentwith said recess within said rib with the height of the wallcorresponding generally to the depth of the recess to insure edgecontact of said film with said recess and said tapered hub surfaceportion during tangential removal of said innermost film convolution.